BROTHERLY DUO TAKE ON WORLD
How sibling rivalry drove the Goriss boys to coaching’s top echelon, writes Nick Wright
BRENT and Paul Goriss never thought they would reach basketball’s international stage.
But having coached alongside each other at the Tokyo Olympics and FIBA Asia Cup, the brothers are set to come into the forthcoming WNBL campaign equipped with even more formidable skillsets.
The pair have largely been travelling non-stop since July, enduring two quarantine stints and extensive time away from their families.
For Brent, the Townsville Fire and Opals’ strength and conditioning coach, the experience taking on the globe and working alongside athletes of immense calibre has him eagerly awaiting his release from Sydney isolation as the WNBL pre-season looms.
It has inspired him to re-evaluate how far he could go in the industry, despite already owning and operating 5 Star Fitness alongside his wife, Lyndsey.
“From an S & C point of view and my experience in general, my main goal is to end up over in the States with an NBA team,” Brent said.
“Obviously that’s a big goal to have but it’s one of those things where we think about the positives and put the positive vibes out there.
“Hopefully I get there but in the meantime it’s being as knowledgeable as I can and applying it to a practical setting and keep striving forward in my career.
“With 5 Star as well it’s a big part of our lives that we built from scratch, that’s something to take into consideration. “That’s something she’s really passionate about and I am as well, so at this stage we’re trying to link the two things together.”
Basketball has long been the passion of the Goriss family, with Paul developing his coaching credentials originally in Townsville – beginning with Brent’s local junior outfits.
Paul was 10 when he and his family moved to Townsville, the birthplace of his coaching passion.
Now leading the University of Canberra Capitals, a side he took to back-to-back WNBL titles, he still recalls those early days.
He remembers the bitter arguments between himself and Brent and the squabbling on the way home, as he drilled his younger brother far harder than any other player.
According to Paul, he wanted to send a message that “he wouldn’t get brotherly love or any get out of jail free cards”.
But those disputes faded over time, and he said the chance to guide a national team side-by-side had not only brought them closer together but set them up for further success.
“It’s not something I ever grew up thinking I would do because for me opportunities just come when they’re available. You never plan your coaching life,” Paul said.
“Getting to do both of our professions and doing it with an Australian team at the Olympics is really special, but I don’t think for either of us it was on our radar growing up or even six seven or eight years ago.
“To me I think in any job or profession you learn from each opportunity. I think you’re continually improving your knowledge, question why you’re doing things and then you come back a better coach and in a better mindset to help your
players.” Brent and Paul are in the final days of their two-week quarantine since returning from Jordan, with Brent admitting the lack of fresh air and natural light had started to get to him.
However he paid tribute to the sacrifices his wife had made to help him realise a dream he did not even know he had, and provide an experience for the brothers they would “cherish forever”.
“When you have your own business and you’re leaving your wife and daughter I was a bit apprehensive about it originally,” Brent said.
“It’s been tough, obviously Lyndsey’s had to run 5 Star by herself while I’ve been away, which hasn’t been so much challenging for her but it’s an extra load. She’s been really good and really supportive about me going away
“To have the experience I’ve had so far has been special enough in itself but for us to be a big basketball family growing up with him coaching me when I was 10 right up to my senior years (is amazing).
“It’s been a lot of travel, a lot of time away from home, but I wouldn’t replace the experience for anything.”
It’s not something I ever grew up thinking I would do ... for me opportunities just come when they’re available.
Opals coach Paul Gorris